Plier type tool for trackless trolley wire



June 1, 1954 F. FLEMING PLIER TYPE TOOL FOR TRACKLESS TROLLEY WIRE Fi led Sept. 18, 1951 ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLIER TYPE TOOL FOR TRACKLESS TROLLEY WIRE Claims.

This invention relates to a tool for the handling of trackless trolley wire.

Trackless trolley wire is a metallic cable utilized for the supplying of electric energy to a trolley car and is customarily supported above street level by means of support posts, support cables and clamps. The wire itself is of a substantially circular cross-section segmentally grooved out on opposing sides of the vertical center line of'the wire at points above the geometric center. Thus the cross-section of the wire appears to be formed of a small upper annular section superposed on a somewhat larger and lower annular section, the adjacent sides of which sections define substantially V shaped opposing grooves.

A short section of the wire is relatively stiff and will readily withstand the thrust of the conductor extending from the trolley car to the wire. However in long lengths the wire tends to coil and twist rendering the handling thereof exceedingly difiicult. Thus in the installation of clamp ears, splice ears, and assembly tips the tendency of the wire to twist and coil presents a serious problem.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a tool which will facilitate the handling of trackless trolley wire.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a tool which will facilitate the installation of clamp ears, splice ears and assembly tips on trackless trolley wire.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a tool which will improve safety conditions in the handling and installation of trackless trolley wire.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool which may be employed to hold a section of trackless trolley wire in a desired position.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a tool which may be employed to twist a section of trackless trolley wire into a desired position.

These and other allied objectives of the invention are attained by providing a tool having opposed die parts, which dies have opposed lip portions for engaging in the grooves of the trackless trolley wire, and each of which dies is internally grooved adjacent a lip portion for receipt of a portion of the circumference of the wire.

To insure of secure engagement with the wire Figure l is a view of the tool in perspective;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the portion of the tool shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the tool shown in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the dies engage the wire; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a wire installation and the manner in which the tool engages the wire.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 particularly, there is indicated generally a tool having a body portion 2 comprised of crossed arms 3 and 4 secured together and pivoted at-5 between handle ends 6 and 6' and jaw ends 7 and 8. Positioned between pivot 5 and jaw end 8 there is secured in arm 3 a die or insert 9 having a groove l0 and a li II. Wing portions I2 and I3 extend transversely of body portion 2 and are provided with extensions of groove II the said groove thus passing completely through the die transversely thereof.

Secured in arm 4 in opposed relation to die 9 is a second die I4 having a groove I5, a lip I6 and wing portions which are counterparts of the same elements in die 9.

Jaw ends I and 8 are each provided with splined portions I9 and 2t.

Referring to Figure 5 there is shown in enlarged section dies 9 and I4 engaging therebetween trolley wire 2i, the lower portion 22 of the wire being fixedly seated in the chamber defined by grooves I0 and I5, and grooves 23 and 24 of the wire being securely engaged by lip portions I I and I6.

As shown most clearly in this Figure 5, the dies as viewed in end section have internal smooth faced concave grooves and from each groove the lip or lip portions II and It extend at an obtuse angle with respect to the groove face to insure of a secure positive engagement with the trolley wire.

In Figure 6 trolley wire 2I is shown engaged by the tool I which holds the wire 2I in a predetermined positien as for the securing of clamp 32 to the wire. Clamp 32 in this typical installation is secured to insulator 3i which is in turn suspended from a sup-port cable 30. The support cable may of course be suitably fastened about vertical supports (not shown).

The tool of invention, in operation, is extended in opened position towards the wire to be manipulated and wire 2! passes between jaw ends 1 and 8 and is guided into the chamber formed by grooves I and I by partially closing the tool as the wire 2i enters, the lips I I and passing over the circumferential portion of the wire 2! to engage in the grooved portions of the wire.

With the tool fully closed, the wire portion 22 is firmly seated in the chamber defined by grooves l0 and I5 and the upper portion of the wire 2| is positioned sspac'ing defined by sthe arms 3 and 4 and the upper surfaces of the dies asshown in Figure 6. The wire then may be readily twisted into any desired position, the firm grasp afforded by the laterally extending wing ;.por.tions serving to facilitate the twisting operation.

Thus the wire 2| may be readily handled with the tool of invention as the wire isbeing'unreeled, the tool serving to retain the wire straight and without twist. The tool serves a particularly useful function in retaining the wire in position during stringing. As illustrated in Figure 6 the toohiseffectiverto position thew'ireifor the mounting .ofzsupport clamps; the tool may be similarly used when installing assembly tips and finds man =ticular11tility whenzthegrooved wire is connected with splice ears where the :twister tool is used to move the splice :ears :to :proper .position on the grooved trackless trolley wire.

SIt will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order toadopt it to :difierent usages and conditions and accordingly,

:it its desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention -.as may fall within the scope-of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for the holding and twisting of trackless trolley wire comprising a body portion including .handle means, and -.a 'pair of relatively r-niovable opposed-diessecuredin said body portion in spaced relation with said handle means, said dies as viewed in endsectionhaving opposed lips and each die having an internal smooth faced concave groove from which 'asaid lip extends at .an obtuse :angle with respect .to the .groove face for the receipt of a portion of the circumference ofsaid trolley wire.

2. A twister $001 for the holding and twisting -of trackless :trolley wire comprising a 'body portion including crossed arms :pivoted abetvveen op- .posin-g ends :thereof, one said end having .handle means and the other said end having opposed dies secured in the said arms,:said .dies .as viewed in end section :having opposed lips :and each die having an internal smooth faced concave groove from which .a :said .lip extends at eon obtuse angle with respect to the groove for the receipt of a -having wing portions provided with opposing smooth faced concave grooves extending through the dies and also having opposed lips each of which intersects with and extends at an obtuse angle from each said groove and lies adjacent one edge of each of the grooves and co-extensive therewith, said grooves in the closed position of said tool defining a substantially closed chamber for the receipt of a portion of the circumference of said trolley wire.

4. A tool for the holdin and twisting of trackless trolley Wire having longitudinal grooves therein comprising a longitudinally extendingbody portion including "crossed arms pivoted between opposing ends thereof, one said end having handle means and the other said end having dies secured in-opposed relation, one die in each of the arms, each said die comprisin wing portions extending transversely of said body portion on either side thereof and each bein provided with a smooth faced concave groove extending transversely through the die, said grooves being positioned in opposed relation to define in the closed position of the arms a chamber conforming to the configuration of a portion of the circumference of the said trolley wire, said dies also having adjacentan edge of each said groove and co-extensive therewith a lip which intersects with and extends at an obtuse angle with respect to a groove face, the lips of the said dies in closed position of the arms being adapted to engage said wire therebetween by engagement with the grooves of said wire.

5. A tool for-the holding and twistingof trackless trolley wire having longitudinal grooves therein comprising a longitudinally extending body portion including crossed arms pivoted between opposin ends thereof, one said end having handle means and theother said end havin dies secured in opposed relation, one die in each of the arms, each said die comprising wing gportions extending transversely of said body portion on either side thereof and each being iprovided with a smooth faced concave groove extending transversely through the die, said grooves being positioned in opposed relation to define in the closed position of the arms a chamber conforming to the configuration of a portion of the'circumference of the said trolley wire, saiddies also having adjacent an-edge of each said groove and co-extensive therewith a lip which intersects with and extends atan obtuse'angle'withlrespect .to-a'groove face, thelips of said dies in the closed position of the arms being adapted to engage said wire therebetween by engagement :with the grooves of said wire, and said dies and adjacent arm endsdefining an internal spacing for themclosing of the remainder of the circumference'of said wire.

References Cited in the .file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '1;910,'750 Clark May 23, 1933 1,911,429 Carroll May 30, 1933 2,236,941 Foley Apr. '1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,242 Australia 1931 

